Spherical Locking Container

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are the working of a Spherical Locking Container  10 , which roughly takes the form an ammunition cylinder from a pistol revolver. The faux Bullets  11  give the appearance of solid and valuable device. The item generates commercial value as a novelty as well as a clever, well-constructed storage container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to storage containers, and to 3-dimensionalpuzzles. It also relates to simulation novelties of the firearmindustry.

BACKGROUND

There are storage containers that are made to hide their valuablecontents, particularly by possessing the external appearance of commonproducts that are not related to the contents they enclose. Examples ofthis are sealable canisters that look like soda cans, or shaving creamdispensers. Those containers are intended to trick would-be thieves orbaggage handlers into thinking that the containers are indeed commercialproducts. The purpose of them is to cause the actual valuables to beoverlooked by people to whom they do not belong.

The problem with those false containers is that they appear to possesslittle or no perceived value of their own. They could easily bediscarded by anyone who does not believe the containers hold much worthto their owner(s).

There are also other types of concealing containers, one such is amodified book with pages cut out to form a hidden compartment. But, likethe shaving cream dispenser or the false soda can, they generallypromote the likelihood that their particular contents will be inspected,due to the very nature of the articles themselves.

By the same token, those false containers may otherwise becomerecognizable as devices meant to conceal hidden articles, such ascurrency, keys, jewelry, et cetera. This may be due to the fact that thecontainers appear slightly different than the trademarked products thatthey are supposed to imitate. This can defeat the entire purpose of suchfalse containers, in that they cannot reliably conceal their contents,nor can they parlay immediate suspicions that they may contain otheritems.

SUMMARY

The invention, in its preferred embodiment, is a bulbous housingassembly that roughly takes the shape of an ammunition cylinder from arevolver handgun. The assembly has at least one removable cap, which isfree to spin with respect to the cylinder portion of the container. Asthe cap spins, it makes the clicking sound of an actual revolver, as itwould rotate from one chamber to the next. The realistic action andweight of the container itself gives a user the therapeutic experienceof handling real firearm paraphernalia, while it avoids any suspicion ofits purpose as a safe-keeper of valuables.

It is an object of this invention to provide a false container thatappears to be a generic, yet valuable, item of its own. The item has itsown appreciable value as a novelty, whether or not it is used to storeanything at all. In fact it may not appear to be a container at all, butmay have the feel of a solid article or assembly. It is not meant tolook like anything common. The novelty of its appearance specificallyindicates that it is not intended to conceal other items. It also avoidsthe otherwise likely appearance of imitating other trademarked products.

It is another object of this invention to provide a false container thatpossesses one or more elements, each having two or more sections, whichnormally appear as contiguous singular pieces of, or within, theassembly of the container itself. For example, the invention could takethe form of an empty plastic housing that is made of twoinjection-molded halves, which are outfitted to look like say a roll ofquarter-dollar coins, when assembled.

It is another object of this invention to provide an item that possessesa psychologically tangible association with handguns. Although theinvention cannot be used as an accessory to any firearm, it has thelook, the feel, and the nostalgic articulation of an actual revolver.The item, which is not subject to any regulations pertaining to realweapons, imparts a psychological appeal that is enough to provide userswith the sensation of handling firearm paraphernalia without subjectingthemselves to the inherent risks that would otherwise be involved.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a concealingcontainer that possesses enough mass and inertia that it will be morelikely to detract any noticeable effect from the jostling movement ofless-heavy items within.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a puzzle toy that,by its particular movement, is meant to be challenging to open.

DRAWING VIEWS

FIG. 1 shows the assembled invention in a front perspective view.

FIG. 2 shows the assembled invention in a rear perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the Center Ring.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the Front Cap.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the Rear Cap.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the assembled invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a Signature Front Cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention, in this preferred embodiment, is made to resemble arevolving ammunition cylinder (from a six-shooter, for example). Withthis device, the Front Cap and Rear Cap are fixed to each other uponassembly, to form what we call a magazine. Together, though, they arefree to spin inside a housing called the Center Ring.

The user holds the Center Ring with one hand, while turning a Cap withthe other hand. The user contacts the bullet portions with his fingers,so as to provide grip. These bullet features could be omitted, so thatthe recesses provide even greater grip.

As the caps revolve within the housing, they tend to locate at one ofsix possible positions (just like the cylinder of a pistol revolver).The magazine is intended to appear as though there are six live bulletsloaded into it, which appear to occupy the interior volume of thehousing.

In FIG. 1, the device 10 is shown as a primarily spherical assembly. TheFront Tip 11 of each bullet can be seen in this view.

FIG. 2, shows the same device, when viewed from the rear. In this view,the Rear Tip 12 of each bullet is visible. Now, although each “bullet”is comprises a front portion and a separate rear portion, together eachwill be referred to as a single bullet in this document, forconvenience. Each portion can be either press-fit or bonded into place.

FIG. 3 shows the Center Ring 20 when viewed from the front. The interiorof the Center Ring is cylindrical, with the exception of the Rear Lip 23and the Front Lip 24. Note that the Rear Lip possesses a number ofnotches, each called an Index 21. Only three Indexes are visible in thisview, but there are six total, equally spaced on the Rear Lip.

Also, note that there are two Slots 22 in the Front Lip directly acrossfrom each other.

Upon the exterior surface of the Center Ring are six Recesses 25, whichtogether enhance the appearance of the device to resemble a pistolcylinder. Each end of the Center Ring is defined by a Rim 26.

FIG. 4 shows the Front Cap 30. A Front Tip 11 of a bullet is one ofthree visible in this view. A Front Plastic Seal 36 is shown mounted tothe Front Cap, which has an outer diameter slightly smaller than that ofthe Rim of the Center Ring. The Front Cap comprise two or more Posts,which rotably fasten it to the Center Ring. A single Post 32 is shownhere with its narrower Stem 34. The two Posts in this view of the FrontCap align with the two Slots in the Center Ring, upon assembly. The twoPosts also align with two pins on the Rear Cap (which are shown in FIG.5).

FIG. 5 shows the Rear Cap 40. A Rear Tip 12 of a bullet is one of twovisible in this view. A Rear Plastic Seal 46 is mounted to the Rear Cap,which has an outer diameter slightly smaller than that of the Rim of theCenter Ring. The Fixed Pin 41 possesses a Snap Ring 43, which is locatedabout a groove on the Fixed Pin (shown in greater detail in FIG. 6). TheIndexing Pin 42, is shown with another Snap Ring 43, a Spring 44, and aDetent 45. This Detent is shown approximately in the position it wouldbe in, when the device is fully assembled.

FIG. 6 shows the complete device (in a bisecting cross-section). In thisview, the inner workings of the can be seen more easily. The assemblycomprises the Center Ring 20, the Front Cap 30, and the Rear Cap 40.

The Posts 32 are press-fit into the body of the Front Cap. The Postsextend into the Center Ring and are kept within it by the Front Lip 24of the Center Ring. Once the Front Cap is in place and rotated, theFront Cap is locked to the Center Ring. The Stem (see FIG. 4), with itssmaller diameter, allows room for the Front Lip. The length of the Stemis slightly greater than the thickness of the Front Lip, to allow freerotation while limiting any movement other than rotation. The FrontPlastic Seal 36 acts to reduce friction during rotation.

When assembling the device, the Posts can only pass the Front Lip of theCenter Ring properly, through the Slots.

The Posts each comprise a disc-shaped Magnet 33 that is pressed into thePost 32 itself. The Magnets are installed to attract the Pins of theRear Cap. Although the Pins are mechanically captured within the Posts,upon assembly, the Magnets help to keep the Post and Pin together. Thisis so that the Caps will tend to stay fixed to each other, even if thePosts are free to pass the Slots in the Center Ring. (The Slots areshown in FIG. 3.)

The Rear Cap 40 is permanently located with the Center Ring 20 by theSnap Ring 43 on the Fixed Pin 41. The Rear Cap is able to spin freely,but is tended by the Detent 45 to one of six Indexes 21 by the force ofthe Spring 44. The Spring is held in place by a Snap Ring, which isfixed about a groove on the Indexing Pin 42. The Rear Plastic Seal 46acts to reduce friction during rotation.

Note that the detent mechanism could easily be located separate from theIndexing Pin 42, and may even take the form of a commercial detentmounted so that its axis is radial to the device itself. In such a case,the Indexing Pin would be similar to the Fixed Pin 41.

When the device is assembled, the Posts pass through the Slots, and ontothe ends of the Pins. At that point, the Caps are held together by theforce of the Magnets alone. (Ideally, an unauthorized person would notbe aware that the Front Cap could be removed when in that position.) Ifand when the Caps are turned, then the Front Cap is physically kept ontothe assembly by the Front Lip. Only when the Front Cap is in placethrough the Slots, can it be rotated to lock the Front Cap to the CenterRing. When the device is assembled, the Front Cap rotates with the RearCap as a single part.

FIG. 7 shows the Front Cap of an Alternate Embodiment 50. In this view,the Signature (i.e. unique and asymmetric) Pattern of Posts 52 ensuresthat there is one and only one position (orientation) for the Front Capwhen it can be removed from the Center Ring.

As with any embodiment, the position of the Front Cap, when it can beremoved, can be marked by corresponding features on both the Cap and theCenter Ring. These features can be as discreet, or as discrete, asnecessary.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

1. A device comprising one or more elements of an operable firearm,where the device is not a firearm, yet where the device appears toemulate a sub-assembly of a firearm, wherein action, motion, and form ofa firearm can be realized.
 2. A puzzle toy comprising two or morepieces, wherein said pieces engender one or more characteristics of apistol revolver (or a firearm).
 3. The device in claim 2, where the saiddevice is cylindrical, and engenders a rotating action
 4. A storagecontainer comprising an external array of one or more shapes, whichcreates the appearance that said container is occupied by the actualitems depicted by said shapes.